By Mike Morrison

For The Times Leader

NEW MATAMORAS — Michael Smith figures to be the lone senior on the Frontier Cougar offensive line this fall and the two-time letter winner relishes the opportunity to take over the role as leader of what he hopes will be a very strong front five.

Frontier graduated three lineman who saw plenty of action over the past four years in Wyatt Smitley, Chris Ridgeway and Caleb McLeish and now Smith is ready to show the same type of leadership showed to him to a talented group of young Frontier lineman.

“We are going to have to get all of our linemen on the same page and work together as a five-man team,” said Smith who figures to anchor once side of the line flanked by sophomore Wade Smitley on the opposite side. “It’s our job to keep our running backs and our qurterback safe.”

Junior Ashton Rush and freshman Austin Brooker will likely line up at the guard positions while sophomore Jake Seevers takes over the all-important center position.

Smith has had the opportunity to work in the past with a few of the Cougar lineman and is looking forward to getting the chance to work with the new additions to the Frontier line.

“There are a few of them that I don’t really know but most of them I do,” said Smith. “The ones that I don’t know I look forward to getting on the same page with them quickly.”

With a new quarterback to protect in either senior Eric Tidd or sophomore Lane Snyder, Smith feels that it will be up to the line to give them every opportunity to succeed.

“We need to continue making bigger holes and not quit on any play until the very end,” said Smith. “We are big again this year and the talent is here.”

Smith has been impressed so far with the Cougar backfield and feels that once they get a bit more comfortable they should be able to do some big things on the gridiron.

“Even though they don’t have a lot of experience back there they have looked pretty good,” said Smith of a Cougar backfield that has several running backs vying for the featured back role. “I’m glad to have that kind of talent behind us.”

After being a part of a couple of tough seasons the past few years as the Cougars went a combined 4-16, Smith would love nothing more than to see his team reverse their 1-9 record from a season ago.

“I would love for us to be able to win more than four games this year ,” said Smith, who would love nothing more than one of those wins to come against Monroe Central. “It would be great to win a (Pioneer Valley Conference) championship.”

(All games begin at 7 p.m. )

Aug. 25 — Shenandoah

Sept. 1 — at Southern

Sept. 8 — Ritchie County

Sept. 15 — at Cameron

Sept. 22 — Waterford

Sept. 29 — Fort Frye

Oct. 6 — at Caldwell

Oct. 13 — at Valley

Oct. 20 — at Monroe Central

Oct. 27 — River